Coyote sightings on the rise

Monday

In his eight years as a town manager in coastal North Carolina, Brian Kramer had never heard anything about coyotes living in the area.

Until now.

PINE KNOLL SHORES | In his eight years as a town manager in coastal North Carolina, Brian Kramer had never heard anything about coyotes living in the area.

Until now.

“I’ve talked to folks who say they have been here, but this is the first year I’ve heard of any reports,” said Kramer, manager for the Town of Pine Knoll Shores. He said the first couple calls about coyote sightings started coming in during the spring.

Over the past month, there have been a number of calls from residents who have seen or heard the coyotes, particularly along Pine Knoll Boulevard and nearby streets.

While the sightings are not necessarily surprising with a 275-acre natural area nearby, Kramer said the increase in calls to town hall about coyotes has also coincided with reports about missing cats.

“Coincidentally perhaps, or maybe not, we’ve also had reports of cats coming up missing,” Kramer said.

The beach town along Bogue Banks isn’t the only area town that has received recent reports regarding coyotes.

The Town of North Topsail Beach contacted the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission back in in the spring after the police department received some complaints from people about coyotes “coming a little too close for comfort,” Assistant Town Manager Carin Faulker said.

The town used an authorized agent twice to trap the coyotes.

Faulkner said that the reports have decreased since mid-July other than an occasional sighting near a wood line.

Emerald Isle Town Manager Frank Rush said they have received reports of coyotes on the island and the town is monitoring the situation. He said town officials have talked with the WRC but no action is recommended at this time.

Jacksonville Assistant City Manager Glenn Hargett said the city has had no reports within the city limits but there are regular sightings at the Land Application Plant off Ben Williams Road.

Sightings of alligators and bears may be more common in the area, but wildlife officials say coyotes can be found throughout the state and it’s not unusual to see them.

“Actually, the sightings are not unique. We get calls all the time about coyotes. They are present in every county in the state,” said Evin Stanford, coastal region supervisor for the Wildlife Management Division of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

Coyotes are not native to North Carolina, but the population has moved eastward across the country and have been in North Carolina for about 20 years.

Stanford said coyotes can adapt to most surroundings, making it likely that they are present in most environments.

“They can live just about anywhere,” he said. “They can survive in the forest and they can survive in open land, even urban and suburban areas.”

Stanford said larger coyotes can get up to 45 pounds, with most being 25 to 30 pounds.

Coyotes typically have reddish to dark gray, thick fur and have long slender snouts, a bushy tail and pointed ears.

Stanford said that just seeing coyotes is not reason for concern and attacks on people are rare.

“They are shy, secretive animals and usually don’t want anything to do with people,” he said.

However, he said, people should be cautious of their pets.

According to WRC information on coyotes, they see cats and small, unleashed dogs as prey while larger dogs are viewed as threats to their territory and/or pups. Coyotes are most likely to confront larger dogs during the mating and pup birthing period from January through June.

Stanford said he does not know anything about the Pine Knoll Shores coyote population, but it’s more likely that people are seeing the same group of coyotes rather than a rapidly growing population.

Kramer said that the town doesn’t have any plans to trap or relocate the animals but the recent increase in sightings does have them stepping up public education about how to avoid conflicts with the coyotes.

“I think the best approach we can take is to get information out on precautions residents can take,” he said.

The town has contacted WRC about having a wildlife official give a presentation for residents.

Stanford said there are a number of steps people can take to avoid conflicts with coyotes, such as securing garbage, not leaving out food or not attempting to feed or pet a coyote.

Coyotes, he said, are established in the state and are here to stay.

“As human development continues to increase, interactions between humans and wildlife will increase over time,” he said.

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